Plan Route

Nautical Charts - Paper - Electronic Mobile Navigation Apps

Visual Distress Signals

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Check Weather

Marine Forecast

Float Plan is like a Flight Plan

Same idea as a flight plan Planned route used to keep others informed of what you are doing and where you are going

Type A - Parachute flare Type B - Multi-star flare Type C - Hand-held flare Type D: Smoke flare

Should have the details about your boat, size and colour and registration number Include details about the trip, where you are going, when you plan to be back and number of passengers Make a note of your cell phone number Identify medical conditions

Float Plan

Instruct the person that if you do not contact them one hour after you are due back from your boat trip to contact the authorities. With your float plan, the person you left it with will be able to provide all the details necessary to help the authorities start a search. It is your responsibility if you are delayed and it is not an emergency, to inform the person with your Float Plan so they don’t contact the authorities unnecessarily and start a costly search for you.

Float Plans

Type A - Parachute flare: easily seen from water, land and air. Must emit a red light.

General inspectionHull Gas and Oil levels Belts, hoses and bilge

Pre-departure Inspection

Type B - Multi-star flare: easily seen from water, land and air. Must emit a red light.

Type B - Multi-star flare: easily seen from water, land and air. Must emit a red light.

Trip Preparation

Proper Loading

Never load beyond your boat’s safe carrying capacity

Reasons a boat rides low in the water and becomes unstable:Too many people Too much gear Too big an engine

Follow the information on the capacity plate and adhere to all limits for each Required on all motorized vessels less than 20 feet

Capacity Plate

Capacity Plate

Capacity Plate Information:Maximum horsepower Maximum number of people Maximum weight permitted

Distribute The Load Evenly

Distribute the load evenly fore and aft and from side to side Keep the load low and centered ‣ Secure it to prevent it from shifting

Proper Prep - important to safe boating

Create a Float Plan Check weather and decide route Follow the information on the capacity plate Load your boat properly

TRIP PREPARATION